New song + video out today: Joey Molland, “I Don’t Wanna to Be Done With You”

 Several weeks ago I reviewed the terrific new album from singer-songwriter/guitarist Joey Molland, Be True To Yourself. You can see that review HERE.

Check out Molland's thoughts on the great track "I Don't Wanna Be Done With You" and accompanying official video out now:

“This was the first song [producer] Mark Hudson and I recorded together, it came from an idea I had sent to [producer] Mark Hudson, He loved the idea and Melody but not the lyric so he wrote a new one. We both thought it turned out ok and confirmed to us that we could work together. This kind of song or lyric editing goes on a lot in recording projects, but in the nature of creating it can sometimes be difficult to allow each other the freedom to cut and dice the ideas without the fuss of discussing the whole idea too closely and losing the magic.” —Joey Molland

Check out Molland's official new music video for "I Don't Wanna Be Done With You" HERE.

AC/DC unleash official video for 'Shot in the Dark' today

 Here is news on the forthcoming AC/DC album! Based on the power and energy of the "Shot In The Dark" music video (and the strength of Brian Johnson's lead vocals), I can't wait to hear this album...Robert Kinsler

AC/DC UNLEASH OFFICAL VIDEO FOR “SHOT IN THE DARK” TODAY   HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM  POWER UP OUT NOVEMBER 13, 2020

AC/DC unleashes the video for “Shot In The Dark” directed by their longtime video director, David Mallet. The release of the video was preceded by a conversation between Mallet and the band, touching on stories from their biggest and best videos, watch the video here and conversation here.   AC/DC releases their seventeenth full-length album POWER UP on November 13, 2020. This marks the legendary band’s first new music since 2014.  POWER UP is available for pre-order HERE.   For the album, the band reunited with producer Brendan O’Brien who helmed Black Ice in 2008 and Rock Or Bust in 2014.  Charged up for the next decade, AC/DC cut twelve new tracks for the album, proudly maintaining their signature sound and all of its powerful hallmarks.   POWER UP will be available in multiple configurations that will excite collectors and die-hard fans alike, including digital, CD, and deluxe versions. The limited edition, one-of-a-kind deluxe POWER UP box is the ultimate fan package. Hit the button on the side of the box and watch the flashing neon AC/DC logo light up while the opening bars of “Shot In The Dark” blast out of the built-in speaker. Inside the box is the full CD package in a soft-pack with a 20-page booklet that features exclusive photos and USB charging cable allowing the box to remain powered up and on display. The vinyl LP will be pressed on 180 gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket. Limited edition variants of the LP will be available at select retailers nationwide, as well as the band’s online store. The album will be available on all digital platforms.   Check out the full tracklisting below!   AC/DC are back in 2020. Get ready for POWER UP now. TRACKLISTING: 1.     Realize 2.     Rejection 3.     Shot In The Dark 4.     Through The Mists Of Time 5.     Kick You When You’re Down 6.     Witch’s Spell 7.     Demon Fire 8.     Wild Reputation 9.     No Man’s Land 10.  Systems Down 11.  Money Shot 12.  Code Red ABOUT AC/DC: AC/DC are one of the most influential rock bands in history with over 200 million albums sold worldwide and 71.5 million albums sold in the U.S. alone. The double-diamond Back in Black stands out as “bestselling album by any band ever” and “third bestselling album by any artist” with global sales of 50 million and counting. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® in 2003. The band also garnered their first GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Hard Rock Performance” for “War Machine” during 2010. They continue to sell out stadiums on multiple continents, sell millions of albums annually, and generate streams in the billions. AC/DC return with POWER UP in 2020.

Sights and Sounds: Royal Blood, Don McLean, Van Morrison, 'McCartney III' preview

 Music news aplenty going into the weekend including updates on Royal Blood (whose set blew away at Coachella back in 2015), Don McLean, and Paul McCartney's forthcoming album...Robert Kinsler

Royal Blood share new video for hit single "Trouble's Coming”

WATCH HERE

Royal Blood is Mike Kerr (vocals, keys, bass, piano)
and Ben Thatcher (drums).

October 23, 2020 (Los Angeles, CA) - Royal Blood are back. The taut rhythms and electrifying riffs that burst from their current hit single “Trouble’s Coming” herald a bold evolution in their sound as they stride confidently towards next year’s release of their highly anticipated third album. Click here to view and share the video. Click here to stream the track.

Just weeks after its release, it’s already approaching 6 million streams. The duo landed on the cover of ROCK THIS, Spotify’s flagship global rock playlist, while breaking the Top 20 at the Alternative and Active Rock formats in the US. Add support from alternative radio everywhere, plus global media attention spanning Rolling Stone, NME, Spin, Clash and much more. Royal Blood are set to make the biggest impact of an all-conquering career.

Today, Royal Blood share the official video for “Trouble’s Coming.” Their granite-heavy bass and drums attack is now flavored by insistent grooves inspired by Daft Punk, Justice and Phillipe Zdar. The video was directed by Dir. LX, best known for his work on U.K. rap and grime icons such as Dave, Bugzy Malone and Kojo Funds, and takes his cues from Mike Kerr’s ominous lyrics to create a video that pulsates with foreboding atmospherics and cinematic, neo-noir flair.

“Trouble’s Coming” proved to be the turning point in the creative process. It concisely tees up what to expect from the record: a very organic infusion of their visceral hard rock sting with a dance-tinged rhythm that grooves rather than pummels.

In the space of just two albums, Royal Blood have ascended to become one of the world’s biggest and most vital rock bands. The Brighton, England duo have scored two U.K. #1 albums - their self-titled double-Platinum, self-titled debut from 2014 and 2017’s How Did We Get So Dark? – in the process of selling 2 million albums worldwide. Their acclaim has included the BRIT Award for Best British Groupplus further accolades at the NME and Kerrang! Awards as well as a Mercury Prize nomination. What’s more, they’ve made a major international impact, hitting the Top 10 in a further seven territories and peaking at #2 on the U.S. Alternative Album chart. Further U.S. success has included three #1 hits at Rock Radio, plus four Top 20 records at Alternative Radio.

A huge draw in the live arena, Royal Blood’s most recent full-scale U.K. and Ireland headline tour saw them perform in front of 100,000 people, including 30,000 over three sold-out nights at London’s cavernous Alexandra Palace. Key festivals have included Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury (where they famously discovered, mid-set, that their second album had debuted at #1), Reading and Leeds Festivals. Highlights of their extensive international touring include huge North American tours with Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters, plus headline shows as far afield as Los Angeles, Tokyo and Sydney.

Don McLean releases new album 'Still Playin' Favorites'

A follow-up to his 1973 covers album 'Playin' Favorites', this new collection digs deep into the roots of American music and adds a rock and roll edge to country, folk, gospel, bluegrass, blues, jazz, and soul gems

FAIRFAX, Va. - Don McLean pays homage to American music with his new covers album, Still Playin’ Favorites, released today through Time Life. Spanning more than 100 years of songwriting, McLean assembled a treasury of music from country, folk, gospel, bluegrass, blues, jazz and soul for the album, performing them with a rock and roll twist. Don discusses several of the tracks in a new video series on his YouTube channel, including “Backwater Blues,” originally recorded by Bessie Smith in 1927. “I just love writing songs and I love hearing songs by good writers that make sense and have lyrics that say something and that are pretty simple,” Don explains about the concept behind the album. “My version is just a little bit more rock and roll, a little harder-edged, with drums and double guitars,” he goes on to say about the classic blues and jazz song, “Backwater Blues.” When it came to recording “Got The Bull By The Horns,” originally performed by Johnny Horton, “I changed a few of the words, I hope he won’t mind,” McLean admits good-naturedly. The collection also features songs made famous by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Clyde Moody, Mel Tillis, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson, Elvis Presley, and more. Still Playin’ Favorites is modeled after his first album of cover songs, Playin’ Favorites, a remarkable artistic statement for a young songwriter to release on the heels of his masterworks “American Pie” and “Vincent.” The new album extends his original tribute to the great songwriters who have helped shape American music and, in turn, McLean’s work. To keep up with Don McLean and be a part of his upcoming announcements, visit his website and follow his social channels linked below. Still Playin' Favorites track listing: 01. So Doggone Lonesome (Johnny Cash) 02. Greenback Dollar (Hoyt Axton, Ken Ramsey) 03. Hide Nor Hair (Morton Craft, Percy Mayfield) 04. I Ain’t Never (Webb Pierce, Mel Tillis) 05. Little Sister (Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman) 06. I’m Going To Live The Life I Sing About in My Song (Thomas A. Dorsey) 07. Six White Horses (Clyde Moody) 08. Treat Me Nice (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) 09. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine) (Bob Dylan) 10. Backwater Blues (Bessie Smith) 11. The Keys to the Kingdom (Jenny Lou Carson) 12. Got The Bull By The Horns (Amos E. Byrd, Billy Jones) 13. Tell Old Bill (Traditional, Arranged by Don McLean) 14. She Used To Love Me A Lot (Charles W. Quillen, Dennis Morgan, Kye Fleming)   YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Website About Don McLean: Don McLean is a Grammy award honoree, a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and his smash hit “American Pie” resides in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) a top 5 song of the 20th Century. A New York native, Don McLean is one of the most revered and respected songwriters in American history. After paying his dues in the New York club scene in the late ‘60s, he went on to score mega-hits like “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air” and many more. His catalog of songs has been recorded by Madonna, Garth Brooks, Josh Groban, Drake, Weird “Al” Yankovic, and countless others. In 2015, one of McLean’s four handwritten manuscripts of the lyrics to “American Pie” was auctioned by Christies, selling for just over $1.2 Million. 2019 honored Don with a star on the Las Vegas Walkway of Stars and his song “And I Love You So” was the theme for Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding. Now in 2020, Don signed a recording contract with Time Life to release his catalog of recordings as well as the highly anticipated new album Still Playin’ Favorites, releasing October 23rd. “American Pie” will be featured in the Avengers Black Widow and the Tom Hanks movie BIOS and much more to be announced. And when you think things are slowing down, not so for Don McLean! 2021 will mark the 50th anniversary of American Pie with a world tour to follow. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Van Morrison shares 'No More Lockdown,' anti-lockdown original protest song

Rock Cellar magazine has a timely update and link to hear the newly-released blues-flavored track "No More Lockdown" from legendary great Van Morrison you can see HERE. The lyrics for the hard-hitting song taking a swipe at government overreach are also included on the post.

'McCartney III' update via Music Worth Buying co-host TJR

TJR has a new video preview on Paul McCartney's forthcoming album McCartney III that you can see via his YouTube channel HERE. 

Sights and Sounds: Paul McCartney, Michael Ubaldini, Richard X. Heyman, Goo Goo Dolls, Stevie Wonder

I wanted to share a few wonderful videos I caught over the past few days...Robert Kinsler

Paul McCartney is set to release 'McCartney III' on Dec. 11, 2020.
Photo: Mary McCartney

Paul McCartney has just announced the forthcoming release of McCartney III coming December 11th! Watch the just-posted trailer HERE.

Michael Ubaldini has release his official video for the timely Americana gem "Money and Power that you can view HERE.

Richard X. Heyman has issued a melodic new single titled "Choices We Make" - catch the great video HERE.

Goo Goo Dolls are releasing their first-ever holiday music album (Its Christmas All Over) on Oct. 30. Check out the band's version of "Let It Snow" HERE. Is it really Christmas in two months? 

Finally, my Music Worth Buying co-host TJR reviews two new Stevie Wonder singles. Watch his review HERE.

'36 Husbands' released in the U.S.; comedy available via Apple TV, Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube Movies

I will be watching and reviewing "36 Husbands" in my next regular column, but I wanted to share the official media release I received from the talented Michael Glover and Robyn Rosenkrantz - better known as Bright Blue Gorilla...Robert Kinsler

36 Husbands on location: Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Our stars: Dominic Anglim, Nadine Nourney, Christa Pasch, Roberta Bianchini

Celebrate the USA Release of 36 Husbands! Today's the day for the USA release of our super sweet, uplifting, family-friendly indie film 36 Husbands! Thanks (in advance) for renting and talking-it-up! We truly hope you enjoy the film and forget the world’s troubles for 90 minutes! Here are links to various places to watch 36 Husbands: itunes (now called Apple TV), Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube Movies. (photo below - scene from 36 Husbands: On the BBG TV Show, Robyn & Michael do a gig in a little out-of-the-way-place...) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Apple TV... A few days ago 36 Husbands was released in Europe. We got high-visibility in the iTunes/Apple TV store... Things were looking great until we found out we were listed in the ACTION FILM CATEGORY! Of course 36 Husbands is NOT an action film, it's a mild-mannered-comedy-musical-spoof! Next thing we knew, many fans of violent R-rated action films rented our non-violent PG family-friendly film and they found our little comedy... um... somewhat lacking in blood-curdling-hormone-surging-thrills. Then... they ran to imdb (there's a lot of running in Action Films) and gave us a "1" rating (out of 10). This made 36 Husbands film rating NOSE-DIVE from an 8.7 to a 3.9 in a matter of hours. Fortunately, our distributor intervened with Apple TV and the category was changed to COMEDY, where we belong... Our imdb ratings are beginning to climb again. But we need your help! If you've seen 36 Husbands, will you please go to this link (imdb), and give our tender little film a high-star-boost to counteract the wrath of our violence-loving brothers? And if you write a heartfelt review it will  help other film-lovers to discover this labor-of-love. Thanks! Speaking of "running"... We're proud to present our VERY FIRST 36 Husbands behind-the-scenes video. We hope you enjoy this trip to Paris! A huge Gorilla thanks to all our friends who have already rented, rated, and reviewed 36 Husbands! We often hear from people who have been cheered up by one of our films or songs and it's only possible because of your wonderful support. Thanks for making our first 30 years of Bright Blue Gorilla adventures so fun and full of love and surprises! Robyn & Michael "Remain Calm... Share Your Bananas..." www.brightbluegorilla.com  photo above: 36 Husbands on location in Australia

It's Springsteen Week On Apple Music

More big news to share on a Monday!

IT'S SPRINGSTEEN WEEK ON APPLE MUSIC 

 

The rock legend launches new Apple Music radio show, premieres documentary film on Apple TV+, hosts a special Apple Music fan event and more

Fans can also tune in to the brand new Apple Music TV this Thursday for Springsteen music videos all day long leading into the release of LETTER TO YOU

The week kicks off with an exclusive in-depth interview with Zane Lowe today

 

Leading into the release of his highly anticipated twentieth studio album Letter to You - the 

first recorded live and together with the E Street Band since 1984's Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen and Apple Music have planned a week of music and events including a brand new radio show, an exclusive album listening party, the anticipated release of his documentary film and more. 

To kick off the celebration, Springsteen sits down for an in-depth exclusive interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe airing today at 10am PT HERE. The interview will also be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.

Monday October 19 - "Letter to You Radio" Special 

The Letter to You Radio Special airs today and will feature five episodes, each dedicated to a time period in Springsteen's career. Joined by a special guest on each episode, listeners will hear Springsteen discuss his career from its inception to his latest album Letter To You recorded with the E Street Band. Special guests include long time manager Jon Landau and Clive Davis, Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, The Killers' Brandon Flowers, Jon Stewart and E Street Band's Steven Van Zandt. 

 

Fans can expect a new episode to drop every day this week at 1pm PT/ 4pm ET simultaneously on the new Apple Music Hits radio station HERE as well as Bruce Springsteen's exclusive SiriusXM channel E Street Radio, on SiriusXM radios (channel 20) and on the SiriusXM app. All episodes will be available on Apple Music on demand following broadcast. Additionally, the special series will replay on SiriusXM's E Street Radio on Monday, October 26 through Friday October 30.  

The new Apple Music Hits radio station launched earlier this year and offers a full catalog of the biggest songs fans know and love from the '80s, '90s, and 2000s as well as remarkable new shows from notable artists and hosts, connecting listeners with the stories behind the most popular songs in the world. Listen Here. 

Thursday, October 22 - Apple Music TV takeover and "New Music Daily Presents" Album Listening Party 

On Thursday, its all Bruce all day with a full 24-hour Bruce Springsteen music video takeover on the brand new Apple Music TV that will lead right into the "New Music Daily Present" album listening party and fan event. During the event the rock icon will spend some time hanging out with 1,000 of his Apple Music super fans, share brand new music, preview clips from the anticipated Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You documentary premiering on Apple TV+ and participate in a live fan Q&A moderated by Zane Lowe. 

Tune in to the global live stream Thursday, October 22 at 8pm PT on Apple Music.

New Music Daily Presents is a series of Apple Music hosted virtual listening parties, harkening back to the album listening parties of yore but now with almost unlimited, ways for artists to treat their biggest fans to something special before releasing new music to the world. Acting as an event extensions of some of Apple Music's most popular and influential playlists, these virtual listening parties could include everything from unreleased tracks, to special guests and will also give fans the opportunity to chat live with their favorite artists. Subscribe to the New Music Daily playlist on Apple Music.  

Friday, October 23 - Bruce Springsteen's Letter To You documentary drops on Apple TV+

Bruce Springsteen's Letter To You will premiere on Apple TV+ on Friday to coincide with the album release. The documentary pays tribute to The E Street Band, rock 'n' roll, and the way music has shaped Bruce Springsteen's life as the artist reflects on love and loss while recording with his full band live in the studio for the first time in decades. Watch HERE.

Stream Letter to You on Apple Music beginning Friday, October 23. In the meantime, Catch up on all things Bruce Springsteen HERE. 

###

About Apple Music

Apple loves music. With iPod and iTunes, Apple revolutionized the music experience by putting a thousand songs in your pocket. Today, Apple Music takes this to the ultimate with over 70 million songs, thousands of playlists, and daily selections from the world's best music experts, including all of the artists and hosts broadcasting daily across its Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country global live streams. Since 2015, Apple Music has welcomed tens of millions of subscribers in 167 countries. Streaming seamlessly to iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac, HomePod, and CarPlay, Apple Music is the most complete music experience on the planet.

AC/DC make first-ever podcast appearance on mega fan Dean Delray’s 'Let There Be Talk''

 A timely update on rock legends AC/DC as they prepare to release a highly-anticipated new album on Nov. 13, 2020...Robert Kinsler

AC/DC MAKE FIRST-EVER PODCAST APPEARANCE ON MEGAFAN DEAN DELRAY’S LET THERE BE TALK   HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM POWER UP  AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 13, 2020

Less than a month out from the November 13th arrival of their seventeenth full-length album POWER UP, AC/DC make their first-ever podcast appearance on Dean Delray’s LET THERE BE TALK today. Angus Young and Brian Johnson join host and AC/DC fan Dean Delray for a fascinating and far-reaching hour-long interview. Listen to it on Apple, Google, Soundcloud, or YouTube now. Among many highlights, they spoke on Brian’s audition, the writing process, the stories behind classic songs, the power of Phil Rudd, memories of the late and great Malcolm Young, and the legend of Angus’s signature Gibson SG used on every album. Additionally, they divulged what to expect from POWER UP. Of his first listen, Dean exclaimed, “I felt like a kid when I bought Back in Black.”  He went on to describe “Demon Fire” as “the crown jewel of this record” to which Brian responded with a laugh, “I’m happy I’m not the guy that’s gotta pick a single from this [album] because I’m confused. They’re all eligible!” On the sound of the album Angus recalled, “As Malcolm always said, ‘By the time we finish with it, it is AC/DC… The ones that jump out, there’s a bit of magic there. It’s got AC/DC written all over it.”   Listen to them POWER UP the LET THERE BE TALK podcast now.   POWER UP is available for pre-order HERE.   For the album, the band— Angus Young [lead guitar], Brian Johnson [lead vocals], Cliff Williams [bass guitar], Phil Rudd [drums], and Stevie Young [rhythm guitar]—reunited with producer Brendan O’Brien who helmed Black Ice in 2008 and Rock Or Bust in 2014. Charged up for the next decade, AC/DC cut twelve new tracks for the album, proudly maintaining their signature sound and all of its powerful hallmarks.   AC/DC are back in 2020. Get ready for POWER UP now. TRACKLISTING: 1.     Realize 2.     Rejection 3.     Shot In The Dark 4.     Through The Mists Of Time 5.     Kick You When You’re Down 6.     Witch’s Spell 7.     Demon Fire 8.     Wild Reputation 9.     No Man’s Land 10.  Systems Down 11.  Money Shot 12.  Code Red ABOUT AC/DC: AC/DC are one of the most influential rock bands in history with over 200 million albums sold worldwide and 71.5 million albums sold in the U.S. alone. The double-diamond Back in Black stands out as “bestselling album by any band ever” and “third bestselling album by any artist” with global sales of 50 million and counting. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® in 2003. The band also garnered their first GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Hard Rock Performance” for “War Machine” during 2010. They continue to sell out stadiums on multiple continents, sell millions of albums annually, and generate streams in the billions. AC/DC return with POWER UP in 2020.

New music: The B-52s, 'The Soul of Midnight Special,' 'Linda & the Mockingbirds' documentary, Def Leppard live releases

Whether your musical tastes favor groundbreaking New Wave, classic '70s soul, British favorites Def Leppard or traditional Mexican music, there are outstanding new releases to discover. 

Artist: The B-52s

Title: Live At US Festival (Shout! Factory)

You might like if you enjoy: the B-52's, Devo, the US Festival

Tell me more: Thirty-eight years after the B-52s took the stage at the inaugural US Festival in September 1982, the group's fabled appearance – featuring the band's classic era lineup – is available to see via a terrific DVD. The groundbreaking forerunner to Coachella, the US Festival was a music, technology and culture event staged in Glen Helen Regional Park in the Southern California desert in 1982 and again in 1983. The B-52s' performance has long been considered one of the finest of the two-year event and its showcase on the Shout! Factory release delivers on that promise in spades. The B-52s are on fire throughout the performance, fueling a bona fide dance party with one surefire uptempo post-punk New Wave track after another. Led by singer Fred Schneider, singer-percussionist Cindy Wilson, singer-keyboardist Kate Pierson, guitar great Ricky Wilson (who passed away in 1985) and drummer Keith Strickland, the band is also joined by a two-man horn section (sax player Ralph Carney, trumpeter Dave Buck) to further power the dance-minded material in the performance.  The fast-moving set includes 13 classic originals including beloved favorites "Party Out Of Bounds," "Planet Claire," "Mesopotamia," "Private Idaho" and "Rock Lobster." There are also interview segments where Schneider, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson discuss the US Festival performance, Ricky Wilson's contributions, and their enduring career. Information: ShoutFactory.com.

Artist: Al Green, Sly & the Family Stone, Ray Charles, James Brown, many more

Title: The Soul of Midnight Special (TimeLife)

You might like if you enjoy: James Brown, Al Green, Sly & the Family Stone, Chuck Berry, the Staple Singers

Tell me more: Fans of '70s soul music will want to get the newly-released "The Soul of Midnight Special," featuring more than 70 live performances. The performances are offered up in chronological order, spanning from February 1973 to December 1976. Highlights on this collection – which includes more than 70 inspired live performances spanning five DVD discs – abound; the Spinners' "I'll Be Around," the O'Jays "Love Train," Ray Charles' "Georgia on My Mind," Gladys Knight and B.B. King collaborating on "The Thrill Is Gone," and Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles" are among the countless standouts on the early part of this collection. Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean On Me," Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," the Staple Singers' "Let's Do It Again" and "Respect Yourself," James Brown's "Sex Machine," and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Devotion" shine on the latter part of the title. Among the hosts seen on the set are Lou Rawls, The Bee Gees, Paul Williams, Wilson Pickett, Wolfman Jack, Helen Reddy and Chuck Berry (who is also featured offering up a terrific version of "Johnny B. Goode"). The audio and visual quality of the discs is good and it's great to see so many legendary artists performing their greatest hits. Information: TimeLife.com.

Artist: Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, traditional Mexican music

Title: Linda and the Mockingbirds (Shout! Studios / PCH Films)

You might like if you enjoy: Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Los Cenzontles

Tell me more: Since 1989, San Pablo, California-based Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy has trained thousands of children in the art of traditional Mexican music and dance. Multi-Grammy Award winner Linda Ronstadt's long-time support of the group led to the production of a powerful new documentary ("Linda and the Mockingbirds") that chronicles the singer's 2019 journey to Mexico with a group of young students that was captured by award-winning director James Keach (who also directed Glen Campbell's "I'll Be Me" and the Linda Ronstadt documentary "The Sound of My Voice"). Los Cenzontles ("The Mockingbirds") was founded by Eugene Rodriguez – who along with singer-songwriter great Jackson Browne – also features prominently in the compelling documentary. But the true heart of the film is the road trip by Ronstadt, Browne and a large tour bus filled with young singers, dancers and instrumentalists who journey to the small town of Banámichi in the Mexican state of Sonora (where Ronstadt's grandfather grew up) to perform and meet with the folkloric dance troupe Grupo de Danza Xunutzi and stage a performance in the community. The documentary masterfully examines the important role of traditional Mexican music and dance for those who live on both sides of the border, as well as issues related to the hot topic of immigration and how that impacts families who are often divided by politics. "Linda and the Mockingbirds" was released digitally Oct. 20 via Shout! Studios. Information: ShoutFactory.com.

Artist: Def Leppard

Titles: "Hysteria At The O2" and "Hits Vegas, Live At Planet Hollywood" (Eagle Rock Entertainment)

You might like if you enjoy: Def Leppard, Queen

Tell me more: Earlier this year Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rock quintet Def Leppard released the outstanding multi-format release "London To Vegas," available as a deluxe 2Blu-ray+4CD, 2DVD+4CD and via digital formats. Now Eagle Rock Entertainment has just released standalone audio versions of "Hysteria At The O2" and "Hits Vegas, Live At Planet Hollywood" as limited edition 2CDs releases. "Hysteria At The O2," finds Def Leppard celebrating their 1987 album Hysteria with a concert set revisiting that multi-platinum album from start to finish before a hometown crowd in London in December 2018. To be sure this is an important outing for the group, and the members of Def Leppard (singer Joe Elliott, guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, bassist Rick "Sav" Savage and drummer Rick Allen) offer up powerful arena rock-ready takes of classics including "Love Bites," "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Animal," "Gods of War" and the rest of "Hysteria" before delving into other moments in their history for choice cuts including the set-ending "Let's Get Rocked," "Rock of Ages" and "Photograph."  

The second performance "Hits Vegas" — filmed at Zappos Theater in Planet Hollywood a few months after the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 — features a far-flung set offering some choice deep cuts from the band. The hard-rocking "Die Hard The Hunter," harmonies-drenched "Too Late for Love," ambitious "Billy's Got a Gun" (bolstered by the tandem lead guitar work of Collen and Campbell) and "Paper Sun" as well as the acoustic-styled "Let Me Be The One" and "We Belong" are delivered with power and perfection. The hits are here as well, including terrific runs through "Foolin'," "Bringin' On The Heartbreak," "Rocket," "Action" and "Armageddon It." Looking ahead hardcore fans should note that the "Hits Vegas" title will be released as a limited edition transparent blue vinyl LP on Dec. 11, 2020. Information: defleppard.com and eagle-rock.com.

Robert Kinsler